"Non book readers" - Season 8 Episode 1 "Winterfell"

Nody

Note anything after this post may contain spoilers for the episode; do not read or open this thread until you have watched the whole episode!!!

This is ONLY about the specific episode! No information from any other source but the lore from the DVDs (i.e. no book related information). Anything relating to interviews or articles directly related to this episode can be posted with a spoiler tag.

The "Next Episode" and any speculation on what may come in the future episodes should be put in the stickied appropriate Season 8 speculation thread; any funny pictures from the episode should be posted in this thread until Wednesday rather than the funny picture thread.

Please use spoiler tags until Wednesday midnight to allow users to watch it on Sky.

Dempsey

I found the changes in production values jarring and I was looking at scenes thinking that they wouldnt have shot it like that before because of the budget.

I thought it was an ok episode, nothing more.

Cantona's Collars

Reading posts on the episode,I think people expected too much. This one had to be done this way to get the characters set up for the rest of the story.
I liked that despite the sense of foreboding as to the threat ahead there was still moments of humour throughout.

JoeyJJ

Decent episode for setting it all up. Sansa scene with Tyrion was very good, also Ayria backing up that, telling the viewer that Sansa is indeed smart. This will be reused in the coming episodes I would say.

Ayria playing down her experience was a little coy, her reunion with the hound was decent.

Sam T didn't take that news too well, interesting to see how John will take his new news and how will his aunt.

shrewdness

Cantona's Collars wrote: »

Reading posts on the episode,I think people expected too much. This one had to be done this way to get the characters set up for the rest of the story.
I liked that despite the sense of foreboding as to the threat ahead there was still moments of humour throughout.

"Look out, he has blue eyes!"

"I've always had blue eyes"

LFCFan

The looks on John's face as he started to realize he'd shagged his Aunt :-) I thought it was a good episode and a necessary one to set things up for the rest of the season. All the pieces are in place now so they can get one with the meat of the story. Can't wait

Zaph

LFCFan wrote: »

The looks on John's face as he started to realize he'd shagged his Aunt :-) I thought it was a good episode and a necessary one to set things up for the rest of the season. All the pieces are in place now so they can get one with the meat of the story. Can't wait

I agree. It's the same every season when people give out about not much happening in the first episode. It's been nearly two years since it was last on, they need to catch viewers up on who's who and where they are, especially as a lot of the main characters are coming together now. I enjoyed it for what it was, a decent appetiser for what should be one hell of a main course.

RollieFingers

The look on Drogon's face when John was with Daenerys

Enjoyable episode though nothing blockbuster happened aside from Sam spilling the beans.

Utopia Parkway

Didn't exactly come back with a bang given it was the first episode in 2 years but it was probably effective in setting the scene for what is to come.

irishfeen

Did anyone find it strange that Bran didn’t tell Jon about his true ancestry himself and let Sam do it?

Very solid episode which is laying the groundwork for what is to come.

Hande hoche!

Setting it up nicely for the season. Will be curious as to what happens with the golden company.

PTH2009

Anyone else feeling a sneaky ambush by the cersis forces on the rest of the army's when they all meet up in winterfell ???

That could rival the red wedding

PTH2009

PTH2009 wrote: »

Anyone else feeling a sneaky ambush by the cersis forces on the rest of the army's when they all meet up in winterfell ???

That could rival the red wedding

Night King mightn't even go to Winterfell, so that couldn't happen. And it makes no sense as she needs the North to kill as many wights as they can before becoming wights themselves.

Winterfell has dragons and massive armies. King's Landing has no dragons and a million people to add to the army, along with everything unprotected along the way.

Then I guess you could have Lannisters fighting from one side, and The North from the other.

ERG89

Utopia Parkway wrote:

Didn't exactly come back with a bang given it was the first episode in 2 years but it was probably effective in setting the scene for what is to come.

Yeah it was just there, I expected a bit more after the long break & the fact this is a 6 episode season.
My only concern this season is the last episode will have most of the major deaths/plot twists as I suspect the penultimate episode to be the big battle against the White Walkers.

degrassinoel

RollieFingers wrote: »

The look on Drogon's face when John was with Daenerys

I thought that was so cheesy i actually laughed out loud

golfball37

ERG89 wrote: »

Yeah it was just there, I expected a bit more after the long break & the fact this is a 6 episode season.
My only concern this season is the last episode will have most of the major deaths/plot twists as I suspect the penultimate episode to be the big battle against the White Walkers.

They've already flagged that episode 3 is the big battle as far as I'm aware.

Exclamation Marc

golfball37 wrote: »

They've already flagged that episode 3 is the big battle as far as I'm aware.

Yep and also the longest episode.

Wolverine359

I love that new opening title sequence, so much closer to the map with lots of detail and confined to the few locations left in focus now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBg_dmOfdRY

PTH2009

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Night King mightn't even go to Winterfell, so that couldn't happen. And it makes no sense as she needs the North to kill as many wights as they can before becoming wights themselves.

Winterfell has dragons and massive armies. King's Landing has no dragons and a million people to add to the army, along with everything unprotected along the way.

Then I guess you could have Lannisters fighting from one side, and The North from the other.

Dont trust Cersi tbh

Sansa and Dany could also come too blows as they don't seem to be getting on

ERG89

golfball37 wrote: »

They've already flagged that episode 3 is the big battle as far as I'm aware.

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Yep and also the longest episode.

Really? I was basing my opinion on this article. I try avoid spoilers and that most of the action-y episodes in GOT are usually the second last ones

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2019/04/15/what-time-game-of-thrones-season-8-episode-1-start-tonight-uk/

Its episode lengths must be off or something

Episode 1: 54 minutes
Episode 2: 58 minutes
Episode 3: 60 minutes
Episode 4: 78 minutes
Episode 5: 80 minutes
Episode 6: 80 minutes

golfball37

ERG89 wrote: »

Really? I was basing my opinion on this article. I try avoid spoilers and that most of the action-y episodes in GOT are usually the second last ones

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2019/04/15/what-time-game-of-thrones-season-8-episode-1-start-tonight-uk/

Its episode lengths must be off or something

Episode 1: 54 minutes
Episode 2: 58 minutes
Episode 3: 60 minutes
Episode 4: 78 minutes
Episode 5: 80 minutes
Episode 6: 80 minutes

That’s incorrect I’d say. Episode 3 is slated to be 82 mins from a few sources I’ve read

SureYWouldntYa

Anyone else disappointed by the dragon cgi in the scene with Dany and Jon?

The dragon scenes were good in the more recent seasons, but their riding of the dragons reminded me of the one in season 5 when she first rode one leaving the stadium which could be excused when it was the first time

Did anyone else think Jon was going to kill Sam when he told him who he is, the tension there was unreal and if Bran wasn't on the scene with his visions and it was only Sam then maybe he would have

dahat

I think anyone who has watched the episode will have the same opinion on the magic dragon ride, unnessecary.

Exclamation Marc

dahat wrote: »

I think anyone who has watched the episode will have the same opinion on the magic dragon ride, unnessecary.

Well, necessary to show Jon can ride a dragon but just overlong and drawn out.

dahat

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Well, necessary to show Jon can ride a dragon but just overlong and drawn out.

Yes, this is true.

I think they had to give it a decent amount of time.. They're trying to set up a believable love between two characters in a very short amount of shared screen time, nevermind romatic screen time. Without some of this, future conflict between them will ring hollow.

Dave_The_Sheep

Subtle as a brick to the face at the start. While I can see the need to use it as a set up episode, I felt it was a bit dull. Only decent scenes involved Sam, a brief few seconds with the Hound and Bran (seperately) and a one liner from Tormund. Danaerys seems to be allowed smile these days, which is good to see, nice for her to get to flash the teeth before she dies.

They're over egging the internal conflict a bit much though, and I have no time for the "Sansa is so smart" way things are obviously going to go, while making Tyrion into an absolute idiot.

stronglikebull

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Well, necessary to show Jon can ride a dragon but just overlong and drawn out.

But why was that even necessary? We know he's a Targarian. We know the dragons can sense this from his interaction with Drogon at Dragonstone in the last season. We learn nothing new from this, and the whole thing was just killing time to add extra episodes into the mix.

People keep going on about this episode setting up characters for the season, but they've been doing that for 8 years now. The whole of season 7 was setting everyone up in these positions to get it ready for this final showdown, and it should have gone straight into it. Another episode to tell us what exactly? That Bran is a creepy weirdo - already knew that. There's tension between the Starks and Jon - already knew that. Nobody likes Dany - already knew that. Aria and The Wolf won't get along- obviously. The Iron Islanders are a boring waste of time and space - already knew that. The North arean't happy with Jon leaving them or bowing to Dany - already knew that too. The Night King is coming and he's a bad ass - already knew that, so stapling some young lad to the wall as some sort of message was pointless and unnecessary.

This episode didn't do anything. It introduced no new information, apart from Sam telling Jon who he really is. It didn't need 60 minutes for that.

After 8 years and some 70 episodes, it's down to the final 6 now, and it should be at this stage balls to the wall action for 90% of that, and the first of those 6 did absolutely nothing. I can't see much happening in the next one either if the rumors that it's all coming to a head in episode 3 are true, so that'll be 33% of the final episodes with little to nothing going on. I'll look forward to episode 3.

SureYWouldntYa

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Well, necessary to show Jon can ride a dragon but just overlong and drawn out.

I didnt mind the scene at all myself, as well as showing Jon riding the dragon we saw the link between him and Dany which was obviously the last time we’ll see them like that after Sam told Jon who he is

stronglikebull, you want 90% of it to be balls to the wall action.. Plot action or like fighting action?

Most of us here miss some actual conversations and want more drama, not action. It's just a pity the writers are incapable of that.

Always Tired

One area that could definitely be improved is the attempts at humor.

Why do you think jokes about eunuchs are funny?
Cuz I still have my balls.

What do dragons eat?
Whatever they want!

What do you hold onto when you ride a dragon?
Anything you can!

There are better jokes in a Tesco Christmas cracker.

Dave_The_Sheep

Always Tired wrote: »

What do dragons eat?
Whatever they want!

I'm not sure that one was supposed to be a joke. More of a threat.

Fluorescence

I have no issue with the episode being all reunions except for the fact they were all boring and sh*t. Sam Tarly was the only good thing about the episode, and that says a lot considering most of his scenes make me cringe normally.

The writers are on such a tight timeline this season and they waste an entire episode on drivel. I'm very disappointed

Exclamation Marc

Always Tired wrote: »

One area that could definitely be improved is the attempts at humor.

Why do you think jokes about eunuchs are funny?
Cuz I still have my balls.

What do dragons eat?
Whatever they want!

What do you hold onto when you ride a dragon?
Anything you can!

There are better jokes in a Tesco Christmas cracker.

The blue eyes comment by Thormund was hilarious.

Exclamation Marc

stronglikebull wrote: »

But why was that even necessary? We know he's a Targarian. We know the dragons can sense this from his interaction with Drogon at Dragonstone in the last season. We learn nothing new from this, and the whole thing was just killing time to add extra episodes into the mix.

Knowing he can and seeing him do it are vastly different things. Sure you could apply that logic to so many things.

I think the episode did well to build into the season. The first episode of any season will always be plot heavy and it needed to remind people where they were. You're not getting a battle of the b@st@rds in episode one or anything close and the pay off is worth nothing if its in the first episode.

Bowlardo

Poor episode . Really really disappointed .the exchange between the hound and Ayra was poor. Ayra was my favorite character but has gone to **** in the last season or two.
I hope this season delivers ... the series really deserves it but I have a bad feeling about this

GavRedKing

The show was gone for 2 years and they've basically covered every possible reunion in 60mins so that for the next 5 episodes there's not backlash as to why X ended up meeting up with Y and magically done this.

Every major and a few minor charactera were shown, where they are and whefe their place is for the coming season.

I think it was a good episode to re-introduce everyone and see what's happeningz no complaints here.

Had a few "oohhh, there he/she is" moments because I didn't bother catching up with all 7 series again.

Lemlin

I enjoyed the episode, bar the dragon riding which had poor CGI and was unnecessarily long.

Very good ending with Bran catching sight of his “old friend”....

Alpha_zero

What a waste of an episode some people defending this tripe is shocking. It was a boring episode that offered little to nothing. Why can't people be honest.

ERG89

Lemlin wrote:

I enjoyed the episode, bar the dragon riding which had poor CGI and was unnecessarily long.
Very good ending with Bran catching sight of his old friend....

Was Bran bad CGI or some sort of doll it felt like he had the same blank look on his face throughout the episode. Like he was being forced to watch every Terminator movie after Judgement Day

thefa

ERG89 wrote: »

Was Bran bad CGI or some sort of doll it felt like he had the same blank look on his face throughout the episode. Like he was being forced to watch every Terminator movie after Judgement Day

They’ve really emphasized how bran isnt bran any more over the last season since he became the three eye raven. Scenes like the one with Meera saying she’s leaving or being reunited with Sansa. He wasn’t the warmest character before then anyways. I like to call him Bran bot.

SureYWouldntYa

Lemlin wrote: »

Very good ending with Bran catching sight of his “old friend”....

I do feel that's a bit of false drama, Bran obviously can't physically harm him himself can he and if he was to reveal to Jon or anyone else what Jaime done it could lead to a lot of crap like Cersei sending troops to fight the Starks but since there's obviously bigger stakes on the line I can imagine Bran just doing his weird little creepy thing to Jaime and no more

Sudden Valley

Not a bad opener. Agree the humour was not great but good to see Sam have an important role in the story again. His scenes were the best in the episode.

Exclamation Marc

Alpha_zero wrote: »

What a waste of an episode some people defending this tripe is shocking. It was a boring episode that offered little to nothing. Why can't people be honest.

Tripe?

No pleasing some people clearly. Things need to be set up before they start barging into war randomly and with no real idea of who is where.

Last season ended with more or less everyone in the same place, miles away from Winterfell. They needed to establish who was where and give the viewer the 'reunions' for some characters who hadn't seen in each other in seven seasons.

Jeez if they didn't do it, people would be complaining that they didn't properly give credence or time to a long awaited meeting.

My only complaint was that the dragon riding sequence was a bit too long and poorly SFX'd, but I understood the need for it to be there.

I understand people probably want six episodes that are Battle of the Bast@rd-esque but come on, gotta build these things - every episode can't be season finale quality.

SureYWouldntYa

SureYWouldntYa wrote: »

I do feel that's a bit of false drama, Bran obviously can't physically harm him himself can he and if he was to reveal to Jon or anyone else what Jaime done it could lead to a lot of crap like Cersei sending troops to fight the Starks but since there's obviously bigger stakes on the line I can imagine Bran just doing his weird little creepy thing to Jaime and no more

There's a different speculation about what comment could have meant, since Bran is now effectively thousands of years old.

"The prince that was promised". Melissandre thought Stannis was the reincarnation of the prince that was promised. Could instead be Jaime.

OneOfThem Stumbled

Okay, I've been known to... criticise a good deal of GOT stuff...

This was a totally okay episode. It didn't cheat, and put real effort into world building. Reunions were nice, if predictable (except Sam with the news of father and brother).

My only real problem (except obvious green screens with dragons) was the issues that characters hang a lamp shade on, but don't actually address.

Sansa: There isn't enough food for a quarter of these men
Everyone: *silence*

Sansa: Tyrion, it is obvious to literally everyone that Cersei has betrayed you.
Tyrion: *silence*

Sansa: The Glovers aren't sending any men.
Jon: *silence*

Sam: You are actually the king, Eggon
Aegon: *silence*

The Yara rescue was a bit unrealistic, but to be totally honest I had forgotten that she was even a prisoner, so it's better that that plot is wrapped up.

Also... "shoot Jamie with this crossbow if you see him".
Wut.

SureYWouldntYa

Deleted User wrote: »

There's a different speculation about what comment could have meant, since Bran is now effectively thousands of years old.

"The prince that was promised". Melissandre thought Stannis was the reincarnation of the prince that was promised. Could instead be Jaime.

Maybe Bran reminding Jaime of what he has done will be another push for Jaime to do a noble thing at some stage leading to his death and being that prince that was promised, whatever that may be

Lemlin

SureYWouldntYa wrote: »

I do feel that's a bit of false drama, Bran obviously can't physically harm him himself can he and if he was to reveal to Jon or anyone else what Jaime done it could lead to a lot of crap like Cersei sending troops to fight the Starks but since there's obviously bigger stakes on the line I can imagine Bran just doing his weird little creepy thing to Jaime and no more

I think Bran might have a creepy exchange with Jamie but not tell anyone what Jamie has done to him or basically say it doesn’t matter anymore and to forget it.

I am more interested in Jamie’s reaction than Bran’s tbh. Maybe he’ll get some further redemption before his death which I feel is coming....

It will truly complete his character arc to atone for what he did to Bran. Then it’s bye bye IMO.

nix

It's the first time Jamie has seen Bran since he fecked him out the window, everything that Jamie has suffered himself since has made him more emphatic as of late, he did a good job portraying his guilt in a short a scene as it was, it was the only good scene in the whole episode tbh, probably because there was no dialogue :pac:

Everything else was either sloppy or executed poorly, the whole reveal to John was so underwhelming..

coolisin

Can I say I enjoyed that episode??

It was a very old school episode setting the pieces up reminding the viewer where everyone was and what they where up to.
(Assuming the viewer hadn't rewatched since the last season, I had caught up with the seasons up to this)
But at the same time moving everything along.

Other then the stupid dragon ride, which I was thinking was too long.
Surely she should be looking at this going ehh how can you fly a dragon.
Big long dragon CGI scene but no ghost!!

castletownman

"Poor girl will die of rot in a year"

Bronn: "Which girl?"

That was comic gold.

But I agree about the clunkiness of the dragon riding scene. Was James Bond-esque, even down to the cheesy "well warm your Queen up" line. Eugh.